The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-24
STUNNED BY HIS FRIENDS.
He Didn't Hang the Anarchists, but He Die
Build the Scaffold.

He Didn't Hang the Anarchists, but He Did
Build the Scaffold.
Lansing Mich Special.
Since the four Anarchists went to their death
inside the walls of the Cook County Jail, in Chi
cago, there has been considerable inquiry regard
ing the man who cut the rope that held them
between life and the grave. Rumor has
nected the work with the names of several par
ties residing in various sections of the country,
but the individual who WAS apparently the most
prominently identified by the gossiping public
in relation to the case is G. A. Pendleton, who
lives near Leslie, Mich, only q few miles from
this city. The residents of the town have been
suspecting him for some time of being the man
believed that he is emplovsd in Yari,
GUS cities to hang criminals. For
this reason his neighbors and former associates
wrong in their suspicious the World correspond
emit has proved. but the fact remains that Mr..
Pendleton built the scaffold which the
were hanged The World correspondent called
northwest of Leslie pleasantly located on one of
the most productive farms in central Michigan
MIR. Pendleton is leading the life of q thrifty ag-
riculturisr. When the object of the visit was
stated he entered freely into conversation rela-
tive to the matter.
For twenty-five years previous to 1885 Mr.
Pendleton resided in Chicago. and: with the
ception of six or eight years, was actively
gagged in contracting and building. Five years
State he was in the employ OF the city as Chief
of the Fire Department.. and also had entire
supervision Of the public building and repairing
L. was while serving in this latter capacity that
he came into prominence in the criminal record
of Chicago. When Sherry and Coney were
executed in 1879 for the murder of O'Connel,
Pendleton erected the scaffolc, which
of original design, being put together with lag
screws instead of the dovetail plan. When
Tracy was throttled several years later for the
killing of officer. the services of Pendeton
were again called into requsition, and the great
success with which the galiows worked upon this
occasion was the subject of liberal press COM
ment throughout the country. In 1883 another
execution was added to the list jacobson, an
easily ancered character. permitted his temper
to get the best of him and in unguarded mo-
men, slew unfortunate wretch who in
oebted to him in the sum of 81. He paid the
PENALTY with his life upon agallows built by Mr..
Peudleton.
Succeeding this event the city government
passed ont of Republican control and in the adj
ministration that followed Mr.. Psndleton was
among the first who ceased to draw revenue
from the city Golfers. 1t was then that he con-
cluded to change his abode 20 his farm home at
Leslie. When he departed from Cook county
MIR. Pendleton thought he had abandoned his
former occ upation. particularly that Of gallows-
builder, but his skill was again in demand in
the spring of the present year. When tho three
sons of Italy were hanged for N ordering a COM
rade Mr. Pendleton WAS summoned from his
tirement to provide the means for their disposal.
The scaffold was taken apart and placed in the
Jail basement for future use after the exec ution
of the three Italians. On Nov. IL it was again
placed in position, but by hands other than Mr.. <
Pendletonis. and the four Anarchists drew their
last breath upon it The assertion that be cut the
rope in this last great national hanging scene
is positively denied by Pendleton and that he
was at home and not out of Leslie during the
week of the execution is proved. However the
gentleman ventures the remark that he knows
who did cut the cord which held four mon on the
brink of the grave but positively refuses to d.
vulge the name, merely volun teering the infor-
nation that the man Is not resident of Mich
igan.